What are the most useless (least used) things you once thought you needed.

Steam cleaner. The issue of having to clean before you use it ensures its abandonment in the understairs cupboard since purchase.

G

Temperature probe for the microwave... soon realised regular ovens are best for joints of meat.

An electric patio heater. By the time you've assembled it, the seasons have changed and it's unnecessary.

It is usually kitchen gadgets. Yep we've had juicers, but one of those vegetable slicer tools sits unopened and unloved. My 2hp plunge router hasn't seen as much use as I anticipated when I bought it 20 years ago, either.

Adam Meredith posted:

Recent camping purchases brushed against the world of the 'prepper'.

You should see the camping gear I have accumulated over a period of time then...

Got a Land Rover Discovery 3 (now have the Disco 4) - on it's own not a problem...until the "offroad bug" bit...Some of the stuff I have bought falls firmly into both the "most useless" and "least used" categories So either an airjack (never used) or HID spot lights (I cringe at the price...and who needs 2km of range with a light...?)

And a juice extractor for the kitchen...seems to be a theme here.

winkyincanada posted:

... one of those vegetable slicer tools sits unopened and unloved.

Mandolin?
I knew I needed one of those. Nearly lost a finger tip and gave it to some kids playing in the street (or not).

I had an early Fuji digital camera that I got around to using 4 times in 18 months. When a time came that I did want it - it had self-destructed. I could have got paintings done for the cost.

Adam Meredith posted:

winkyincanada posted:

... one of those vegetable slicer tools sits unopened and unloved.

Mandolin?
I knew I needed one of those. Nearly lost a finger tip and gave it to some kids playing in the street (or not).

I had an early Fuji digital camera that I got around to using 4 times in 18 months. When a time came that I did want it - it had self-destructed. I could have got paintings done for the cost.

Yes! A Mandolin.

An outdoor garden furniture ensemble .. never been sat in to my knowledge, except by the squirrels of course.

In the mid 90s i purchased a Polaroid Camera which cost £120 - used once at a new years eve party.

It sat the next 15 years in a cupboard, and then sold via eBay for just £15

It cost the purchaser an additional £12 to post to his address in Italy.

The purchaser claimed non-arrival ....so £27 refunded.

Yes! Kitchen gadgets! SWMBO buys loads of these. They languish in various drawers, many still in their packaging. I'd let you know what they are if I knew myself. 

The internet.

http://www.theuselessweb.com/

My second wife

steve

An electric guitar, which I even replaced for a better one in the illusion that I would learn playing guitar....

I bought an alto sax once, thinking I'd be able to play like Bird. More like a turd. That was sold sharpish.

I also had an electric guitar but mind and hands are rarely in harmony so complete waste of time and sold it, only to buy another years later with very similar success, except I did learn how to play blowin in the wind. With my repertoire only being one song, failed to see how I could make it as a busker, let along another Eric Clapton, so it got sold too.

A (ex)wife!

John Willmott posted:

An outdoor garden furniture ensemble .. never been sat in to my knowledge, except by the squirrels of course.

We use ours a lot. I'd say it is the opposite of useless. The initial price for our latest set was a bit eye-watering (previous set was $80), but it has turned out to be excellent value for money.

CariocaJeff posted:

I also had an electric guitar but mind and hands are rarely in harmony so complete waste of time and sold it, only to buy another years later with very similar success, except I did learn how to play blowin in the wind. With my repertoire only being one song, failed to see how I could make it as a busker, let along another Eric Clapton, so it got sold too.

Nope. I'm a pretty rubbish player, but treasure all my guitars. They're timeless. The older they get the more special they become to me.

winkyincanada posted:

CariocaJeff posted:

I also had an electric guitar but mind and hands are rarely in harmony so complete waste of time and sold it, only to buy another years later with very similar success, except I did learn how to play blowin in the wind. With my repertoire only being one song, failed to see how I could make it as a busker, let along another Eric Clapton, so it got sold too.

Nope. I'm a pretty rubbish player, but treasure all my guitars. They're timeless. The older they get the more special they become to me.

Shame I've sold my guitar, would happily have swapped it for your mandolin as have a craving for some crisps and can't be bothered to walk to the shop so would have come in handy!

Two things for me a right handed electric guitar even though I would play it left handed and also bought the wife a very expensive exercise bike which has become a dust gatherer.

Another mandolin, since sold. Recently added a balalaika, but the jury is still out on that one.

Working in Korprate Amerika and engaging in any sort of self improvement that requires anything more than minimal time represents an unsolvable time conflict.

Speaking of camping, I bought a set of glow-in-the-dark, luminescent key ring markers you hang on the tent pegs. These are supposed to absorb the daylight and glow throughout the night to mark your pegs..........but they don't.  

A pasta maker.

In 26yrs the closest we have ever come to an proper row. It went back in the box and never appeared again. Just buy pasta from the shop!

I'm also tempted to say my Alfa Romeo 147. It was useless, even though I needed it.

Bruce

+1 for the juicer. As a 20th work-anniversary present, my wife had a choice of ugly crystal, ugly clocks, ugly watches or the juicer. The juicer hasn't been out of it's box, but it's still an improvement over something ugly in plain sight.

A recycled automatic coffee maker as a gift. She forgot i have my "double shot" at 06.30 at the local gas station every damn morning.  How sweet.